Implement towing hitch



Oct. 3l, 1950 v. F. wALTl-:Rs 2,528,461

' IMPLEMENT TowING HITcx-x Filed Nov. 28, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N V EN TOR. VfR/VON Mu rms BY ATOR/VEV Oct. 31, 1950 V, F, WALTERS 2,528,461

IMPLEMENT TOWING HITCH Filed Nov. 28, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ya 2c 22 INVENTOR. #5R/vow F. MM /PS Patented ct. 31, 1950 IMPLEMENT rrowINo. HITCH` Y Vernon F. Walters, Denver, Colo., assignor to Howry-Berg Steel & Iron Works, Denver, Colo., a corporation of Colorado Application November 28, 1949, Serial No. 129,807

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an implementfhitch for attaching implements and trailers to tractors and tow cars. The principal object of the invention is to provide a hitch construction which will enable a single man to attach a heavy implement to the tractor without assistance and without the use of jacks or other lifting equipment.

It is exceedingly difficult for the driver of a tractor to back the tractor into position for hitching it to a heavy implement or trailer with sufficient accuracy to allow the draw bar pin to be placed in position. Another object of this invention is to provide means whereby the tongue of the implement will be supported in approximate position for attachment; to provide a hitch device on the tongue which can be raised, lowered, and moved in various directions to enable 'the operator to position it to receive the draw bar pin;v

and to provide a hitch of this characterwhich, after its attachment to the trailer, will automatically assume the proper trailing position in consequence of the tractor being driven forwardly.

A further object is to provide a supporting leg for implement tongues which can be placed in or removed from position by simply driving the tractor forward and back.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed vdescription of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved implement hitch in position on the tongue of a typical implement or trailer;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, longitudinal section, taken on the line 33, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a similar section, taken on the line 4 4, Fig. 1; and

Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are side views of the improved hitch, illustrating it in various positions, to be later described.

In the drawing, a tongue of a trailing implement is illustrated at I0, with its side braces II and a cross bar I2. The tongue is channel shaped in cross-section, with its two side flanges directed downwardly.

. 2 l A channel-shaped leg member I4 is hingedly mounted on the extremities of the pin I3 atveach side of the tongue I0 so that the leg member may swing rearwardly and upwardly beneath and along each side of the latter.

The leg I4 is provided with two hinge arms I5, there being one of the arms I 5 positioned at each side of the tongue I0. When the leg is in the supporting position of Fig. 2, the hinge arms I5 extend forwardly, as shown in Fig. 4. The amount of forward swing of the leg I4 is limited by the contact of these arms with the angle braces I I or other stop means, as shown in Fig. 4.

v.A spring pin I6 projects outwardly from each hinge arm I5, and a tension spring II extends rearwardly fromeach of the spring pins I6 to a connection with the cross bar I2. It will be noted that when the leg -I4 is in the supporting position of Fig. 2, the spring pin I6 is slightly above the axis of the hinge pin I3, so that the action of the tension in the springs is to lift the forward extremities of the spring arms and force the leg I4 forwardly. If` the leg I4 be swung slightly rearwardorif the tongue ID-be moved slightly forward, the center line of the springs will move below the axis of the pin I3, causing the springs to snap the leg I4 rearwardly and upwardly to the position of Fig. 5.

A flat, elongated draft bar I8 is mounted in the forward extremity of the channel of the tongue I0. The rearward extremity of the draft bar I8 is bent back upon itself to form an elongated loop I9 surrounding the hinge pin I3. A lower member 20 is welded or otherwise secured to the forward extremity of the draft bar I8 to forman open notch 2| to receive the draw bar of the towing tractor, indicated at 22 in Figs. 6 and '7. The members IB and 20 are drilled to provide draw bar pin openings 23 for receiving the draw bar pin 24.

The draft bar I8 is supported in the forward extremity of the tongue I0 by means of a hooked latch member 25 having an inclined rearward face and a notch for receiving the upper portion of the tongue Ill. The latch 25 is mounted on a latch pin 26 extending between side plates 21 welded or otherwise secured to thesides of the bar I8.

The rearward extremities of the side plates 21 extend into the forward extremity of the tongue I0, and these side plates are provided with shoulders `28 which contact the end of the tongue I0 to limit the rearward movement of the draft bar I8 when the latch is engaged.

A latch spring 29 constantly urges the latch t0 the engaged position. It may be withdrawn from the engaged position by means of a exible cable 30 extending to any point convenient to the driver of the tractor. The cable extends under a cable loop 3l on the draft bar I8 to a cable eye 32 on the latch 25. IThe latch is prevented from swinging too far rearwardly by means of a foot portion 33 formed thereon which contacts the bar I8.

Let us assume that the implement is being supported upon the leg I4, and that the tractor has been backed to position the draw bar 22 substantially as shown in Fig, 6. The driver now dismounts and raises the draft bar I8, moving it rearwardly if necessary, the loop I9 riding over the pin I3, and slides it over the pin hole in the draw bar 22, as shown in Fig. 7. He now puts the draw bar pin 24 in place and returns to his drivers seat.

When the tractor is driven forwardly, the upper extremity of the leg I4 will swing forwardly, allowing the forward extremity of the tongue IU to descend until the-side plates 27 rest against lthe top plate of the tongue and the latch 25 snaps thereover. on the draw bar 22 and relieves the load on the leg I4, allowing the springs I l to snap the leg upwardly to the traveling position of Fig. 5.

Should the driver desire to release the implement, he simply forces the leg I4 downwardly against the ground, thence returns to his tractor, releases the latch member 25, and backs the tractor until the springs I'I pass their dead-center position and the leg is in the supporting position of Fig. 6. the tongue I0 to rise without tending to lift the tractor draw bar. The draw bar 24 can now be withdrawn and the tractor driven away.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A hitch for attaching implements to the draw bar of a tractor comprising: an implement tongue; a draft bar; means for securing said draft bar to the draw bar; a transversally extending hinge pin hinging said draft bar to the This places the load of the implement The releasing of the latch 25 allows 4 forward extremity of said tongue; and releasable means for supporting said draft bar in vertical alignment with said tongue, the hinge of said draft bar allowing relative longitudinal movement between said tongue and said draft bar when said releasable means is released.

2. A hitch for attaching implements to the draw bar of a tractor comprising: an implement tongue; a draft bar; means for securing said draft bar to the draw bar; a transversally extending hinge pin hnging said draft bar to the forward evtremity of said tongue; releasable means for supporting said draft bar in vertical alignment with said tongue, the hinge of said draft ybar allowing relative longitudinal movement between said tongue and said draft bar when said releasable means is released; and means for preventing rearward movement of said draft bar when the latter is in vertical alignment with said tongue.

3. A hitch for attaching implements to the draw bar of a tractor comprising: an implement tongue; a draft bar; means for securing said draft bar to the draw bar; a transversally extending hinge pin hinging said draft bar to the forward extremity of said tongue; side plates formed on said draft bar, said Side plates extending into said tongue and limiting the upward movement of said draft bar; a shoulder portion formed on said side plates and adapted to contact the forward extremity of said tongue to limit the rearward movement of said draft bar; a latch pin extending between said side plates; and a latch mounted on said pin and adapted to engage the top of said tongue to support said draft bar therein.

VERNON F. WALTERS.

REFERENCES CITED lThe following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,400,145 Zink et al May 14, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 548,564 Germany Apr. 19, 1932 

